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The audio begins at 00:19 seconds, with Admiral Cobbold’s introduction.
Mr Nicky Oppenheimer begins speaking at 02:54.

Biography

Mr Nicky Oppenheimer joined the Anglo American Corporation in 1968 as Personal Assistant to the Chairman, and subsequently worked in the Gold and Diamond Divisions of the Corporation. In 1974 he was appointed a director of Anglo American Corporation, and in 1978 he was appointed a director of de Beers. In March 1990 he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the newly formed Swiss based company, de Beers Centenary AG. Nicky Oppenheimer became Chairman of the de Beers Group on 1 January 1998. On 1 October 2003 he was bestowed with an honorary  Doctorate in Technology by the Technikon of Witwatersrand in South Africa. In 2004, he received the Presidential Order of Honour from his Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae.

De Beers is the world’s largest diamond mining and marketing company, and has an extensive presence in Africa. Apart from being one of the foremost investors in Africa, they have a passionate interest in the continent’s development, and Mr Oppenheimer, as head of de Beers, is committed to the process. Africa continues to face numerous challenges, but the continent has nevertheless also made progress in a variety of sectors and is now a major factor in the global economy. Mr Oppenheimer is uniquely positioned to give insights into the continent’s considerable achievements, and its future priorities